Locking device



G. RAUGLAS Nov. 10, 1953 LOCKING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1949 aimwwwwwhv Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,658,777 LOCKING nnvmc "Gerard =Rauglas, Miiineola, Fla. Application 'May 5, 194"9,;seris1No.91,54a

.1 Thisinvention relates to a device for namin telescoping sections in an extended, 'non-r'e'tiact- Various types of holdin'gf-or locking devices for telescoping sections have heretofore been proable position. I -posed "which are either difiicult to operate, be- "come ineife'e'tive after repeated use, or have various parts of *thedevi'ce exposed whereby they maybe readilydamagedor knocked out of adjustme t.

Thus it is'one of the objects of this invention to provide a holding device for telescoping sections having the working parts thereof completely enclosed between the adjacent surfaces of 'saidsetions, and thereby insuring greater protection of "the working parts from "dirt or other foreign materials. 7

It is a *iurth'er objectof this invention to provide a holding devi'ce {for telescoping sections havingth'e working parts thereof adapted to be actuated into holding position *upon relative movement ot the sections in one direction and released from said holding position upon relative movement of *the sections "in "the "opposite direction.

It is asltill furtherobj'ectof this invention to rovide a holding device for telescoping sections having the working parts thereof completely in- Visible.

his 'a still furtherob'jec't of this invention to provide a holding device for telescopingsections whose working parts cannot he accidentally knocked out of adjustment.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a holding device which is simple and compact in construction, effective in operation, and inexpensive'to produce.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, a'ndappended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a device is provided for holding telescop'ingsections in an extended, non-retractable position, comprising a plurality of elements placed between and tangentially engaging the adjacent surfaces of said sections. 'The adjacent surface of one of the telescoping sections'is tapered. Also positioned between the adjacent surfaces of the sections is a seating member for retaining said elements in position. The seating member is adapted'to move independently in a longitudinal direction relative to said sections upon relative movement of said sections in certain directions. The elements, 'upon relative movement of the sectionsin one direction, are

2 "Claims. (Cl. 287 58) Member Hi centers rod l 3 within section I l.

caused to wedge between *the adjacent surfaces ther'eo'fby the seating member and hold the's'ections in an extended, non-retractable position. Upon relative movement of the-sections in the opposite direction, the elements are released from the wedged position bythe seating member. For a more complete understanding -'of this invention, reference should now be had to the drawings wherein Figure l is a fragmentary, side elev'atio'nal view of one form of aholding-device showin'g'the telescoping sections in anextended, non-retractable position and having the outer 'telescoping section partially cut away toexpose the working parts of saiddevice.

Fig. 2'is similar to Fig. 1 but showing the device in its non-holdingposition.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, side-elevational *view ofamodified form-of holding device showing the telescoping sections in anon-retractable position and the outer telescoping section partially cut away to expose the working "parts of saiddevice.

Fig. 4 is -a side-levational view of the outer telescoping seotionfor thedevice shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view oft'he seating member for the device shown in Fig. 3.

6 is 2. -"fragment'ary, side-levational view of another modified form of-holding device showing the telescopingsections in an extended, non- -re't'ractable position and the outer telescoping s'ecti'on partially cut away toexpose the Working parts of said device.

'Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to Figs. land 2, adevice I0 is shown for holding telescoping sections H and 12 in 'various extended, non-retractable positions. 'The inner telescoping-section I is of cylindrical construction and has coaxially mounted therein a pushrod IS. The lower end 'of'the rod 'l"3extends beyond the enclosed end H of the telescoping section I I.

'Fitted into the enclosed "end [4 of section ll and heldin place therein by rivet I8 is aconicalshaped guide and wedge member [5. The guide and wedge member 15 extends longitudinally from end 14 and has the exposed side portions thereof tapered. The narrow end of member 15 is provided with an annular shoulder l6. An opening [1 isprovided in'meinber I 5'for enabling theend portion of rod IE to extendtherethrough.

Surrounding member I5 and tangentially engaging the tapered side portions thereof are a plurality of metallic'balls 210. The balls are -retainedlntheirsymmetrical position about guide 3 and wedge member [5 by means of a cup-shaped seating or ball race member 2|. The base 22 of the seating member 2| is secured to the end of push rod 13 by means of a lock screw 23 which is The handle slot 21 formed in the inner telescoping section I I. The finger handle 26 is adapted to be actuated in a downward direction by the operator resulting in the release of the balls 29 from the wedged or holding position and enabling telescoping section II to be retracted into telescoping section 12. The balls 23 are normally held in a wedged or holding position between the tapered sides of guide and wedge member 55 and the adjacent surface 28 of telescoping section 12 by seating or ball race member 2!. The push rod I3 is actuated by coil spring 33 to cause seating member 2| to normally hold the balls 23 in this wedged position. The spring 33 embraces a portion of push rod [3 and has one end thereof engaging guide member l5 and the other end thereof engaging a pin 3| transversely mounted on rod [3. To release the balls from their holding position, the operator presses down on the finger handle 26 compressing spring 3!] and causing the push rod 13, seating member 2|, and balls 20 to move independently in an endwise direction relative to guide and wedge member I 5 and unwedge .the balls, as seen in Fig. 2. The annular shoulder I6, formed at the narrow end of member l 5, prevents the balls 28 from slipping out of the openings provided in seating member 2! when the balls are in their non-holding position. With the balls so positioned, the operator may readily retract the telescoping sections any desired amount and, upon release of the finger handle 26, the balls will once again wedge between the sections and hold them in a non-retractable position.

The form of holding device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is particularly adapted for use in adjustable microphone stands and the like, where the height thereof is frequently varied.

A modified form of holding device 29 is shown in Fig. 3 wherein the inner telescoping section 32 is a solid shaft and the outer telescoping section 33 is in the form of a bearing sleeve. The outer section 33 is rigidly secured to a suitable frame or support, not shown, by a bracket 34 and lock bolts or screws 34'. The bracket 34 is fastened by welding, or any other similar means, to the outer periphery of section 33. The inner periphery or surface 35 of section 33 is tapered to provide a wedging action as shown in Fig. 3.

Positioned between the adjacent surfaces of the telescoping sections 32 and 33 are a plurality of metallic balls 36 which are actuated into and out of a wedged position by seating or ball race member 31. The balls 33 tangentially engage tapered surface 35 and the outer periphery of shaft or section 32 when they are in their wedged position. Seating member 31 positively holds the balls '36 in their wedged position by means of a coil spring .38, which is positioned between and engages the seating member 3? and a cap 44 which is rigidly secured by welding, or any other 7 4 suitable means, to the corresponding end of telescoping section 33. Cap 40 is provided with a suitable opening in its base to enable telescoping section 32, to extend therethrough.

Seating member 31, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided with a flanged collar 43, at one end thereof, and projecting radially therefrom, in an outward direction, is a studlike member 44. Extending radially inwardly from collar 43 of seating member 31 is another studlike member 45.

Studlike member is adapted to slidably engage the edge 4! of section 33. Edge 4| is adjacent the diverging end of tapered surface 35 and has formed therein a slotted portion 42, as seen in Fig. 4. When studlike member 44 is positioned in slotted portion 42, the seating member 31 holds the balls36 in their wedged position. Upon moving of studlike member 44 out of slotted portion 42, the seating member 3! is moved in a longitudinal direction toward the diverging end of section 33 and releases the balls 36 from their wedged or holding position.

Studlike member 45 engages a longitudinallyextending groove 46 formed in the outer periphery of shaft 32. On the end of shaft 32 is mounted handle 41. Upon the operator grasping the handle 47 and twisting in the direction A, the collar 3'! is likewise rotated in direction A causing stud member 44 to be moved out of slotted portion 42. When the stud member 44 is moved out of slotted portion 42, the shaft 32 may be retracted into section 33.

A plurality of spaced openings 48 are formed in the side portions of the seating member 31 to enable the balls 36 to be rotatably seated therein.

Holding device 29 may be readily used in a various number of ways, for example, in combination with automobile emergency brake mechanisms. The actuating spring or cable of such a braking mechanism may be secured to the free end of shaft 32.

The advantages of holding device 29 in such an installation are: that the brake may be readily applied or released by the operator. Also, once the brake is applied, the holding device will remain in its operative position indefinitely regardless of the retracting force applied; that is' on the enclosed end 5| of the inner telescoping section 52 and held in place by means of a rivet 33. The guide and wedge member 56 extends longitudinally from the end 5i of section 52 and has its exposed side portions tapered. At the lower or narrow end of conically-shaped member 58 is'formed an annular shoulder 54 whose function is the same as that of shoulder it for guide and wedge member i5, above described. Extending longitudinally from shoulder 54 is a threaded stud 55. Threadably mountedon stud 55 is a ferrule member 56 which is adapted to retain a plurality of balls 5'? in a symmetrical position about the tapered portions of the member 53. When the balls E'lare moved into their wedged position, they tangentially engage the side portions of members 53 and the adjacent peripheral surface 53 of the outer telescoping section 63. The sides 32 of ferrule member 53 extend in substantially a perpendicular direction from the baseti thereof and are positioned between guide and wedge member 53 and surface 53 of section 63. Openings 6% are provided in sides 32 to enable balls 5? to be seated therein.

Upon a relative twisting movement of the telescoping sections 52 and 60 in one direction, the stud 55 is threaded through ferrule member 56, the base 6! of which frictionally engages the adjacent surface 58 of section 60, causing balls 51 to wedge between member 50 and surface 58 of section 59. Upon a relative twisting movement of the telescoping sections 52 and 60 in the opposite direction, the stud 55 is threaded out of ferrule member 56 and the balls 51 are released from the wedged position and the sections retracted. The frictional engagement of ferrule member 56 on surface 58 of section 60 is only slight and does not interefere with the retracting ing or extending of the telescoping sections 52 and 60.

Holding device 49 is particularly adapted for use in adjustable tent or awning poles.

Thus, it will be seen that three forms of holding devices are shown which are readily adapted for various uses, only a few of which have been indicated. All the holding devices are enclosed between the telescoping sections and thereby are protected from damage caused by dirt or other foreign materials. The holding devices, by being concealed between the telescoping sections, do not derogate the outside appearance of the telescoping sections. The devices are likewise simple and compact in construction, effective in operation, even after extensive use, and inexpensive to produce.

While several embodiments of this invention are shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1.' A device of the class described comprising a 1 pair of telescoping sections adapted to be normally held in a non-retractable, extended position, the outer telescoping section having the surface thereof adjacent the inner telescoping section tapered, and the edge of the outer section at the diverging end of the tapered surface deformed, a plurality of balls tangentially engaging the adjacent surfaces of said sections, a spring-actuated seating member disposed be tween said adjacent surfaces and adapted to normally hold said balls in a wedged postion, said member provided with a flanged collar and having a portion thereof adapted to slidably engage said deformed edge, and means for effecting longitudinal movement of said seating member relative to said tapered surface and release said balls from said wedged position upon a relative twisting movement of said sections.

2. A device of the class described comprising a pair of telescoping sections adapted to be normally held in a non-retractable, extended position, the outer telescoping section having a portion of its surface adjacent the inner telescoping section tapered and a deformed ledge provided at the diverging end of said tapered surface, a plurality of balls tangentially engaging the tapered surface of the outer section and the adjacent surface of said inner section, a seating member positioned between said tapered and adjacent surfaces and adapted to normally hold said balls in a wedged position, said member having an outwardly extending element adapted to slidably engage said ledge, and means for effecting longitudinal movement of said member relative to said tapered surface and thereby release said balls from said wedged position upon relative twisting movement of said sections; said means comprising a studlike member projecting inwardly from said seating member and engaging a longitudinally extending groove formed in the adjacent surface of said inner section.

GERARD RAUGLAS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Feb. 16, 1921 France Aug. 11, 1914 Great Britain Oct. 20, 1939 Germany Jan. 31. 1934 Number Number 

